GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's GERD was denied as not related to service. The Board found the Veteran's skin conditions remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for GERD and remanded the issue of increasing the rating for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence establishing a baseline level of severity.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his bowel condition (IBS and GERD) was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they were not severe enough to warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition was not addressed due to it being previously denied by the Board and not appealed to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also denied as he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's GERD disability. The Veteran will need to undergo an in-person VA examination to determine his condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed for the remaining claims, and a new VA medical opinion is required to address whether preexisting scoliosis was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol and its related conditions, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic sclerosis, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, pulmonary granulomatous, bilateral pleural fibrosis, chronic right shoulder pain, upper extremity neuropathies, easy bruising, GERD, skin cancer, adrenal adenomas, colon polyps, enlarged prostate, and perforated tympanic membrane are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension, erectile disorder, gastrointestinal disability, COPD, skin disability, and sleep apnea. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, type II diabetes mellitus, or other relevant conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to asbestos-related pleural disease due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. The appeals for service connection for GERD and a respiratory condition, including asbestos-related pleural disease, are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke residuals, gout, memory loss, a respiratory disorder, and chronic kidney disease due to inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot condition, presbyopia and astigmatism of the eyes, obstructive sleep apnea, left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve radiculopathy, surgical scars on knees, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, total right knee replacement, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinea corporis and onychomycosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, rectal fissures/hemorrhoids, malaria residuals, and service connection for TDIU have been granted. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for arthritis of the cervical spine and asthma with obstructive sleep apnea, but granted a 10 percent initial rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered de novo due to the receipt of relevant official service department records.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there was no direct link to his active duty and no evidence linking it to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiners concluded that the GERD did not have its inception during service or is otherwise related to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether the condition was incurred in service or if it is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed with additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 58 percent, which is less than the required 70 percent.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder and reopened the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The remaining claims were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (asthma, sinusitis, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the current VA opinions are inadequate and requires additional medical examination to determine if any of the Veteran's conditions, including GERD, esophagitis, and H. pylori, are related to his in-service duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran withdrew her claim for service connection for GERD, and the Board dismissed it.